Iñigo Aldabaldetrecu – General Manager Aernnova México
12 March 2022
In its commitment to innovation, Aernnova has launched a new automation project at its Berantevilla plant with the aim of aligning costs with the market based on a technology which, until now, has not been used in the Aernnova environment.
The search for a competitive advantage has not only consisted of the implementation of several robots to reduce costs, but has also been based on the design of new operating models that will allow better cost adjustment for each type of product, reduce working capital thanks to the reduction of assembly lead time and faster industrialisation by reducing the learning curve of the assemblers.
The project involves transforming a manual assembly plant, where the tools are fixed to the floor, into production lines where operators and robots work together, where all the tools move and where the operating model is adapted to the type of product the customer wants to contract us for.
For example, in the assembly of a CWB A220 there are 3 different operating models, a flexible automated cell for sub-assemblies (spars and closing RIBs) called MPP (multi-programme and multi-product) and an automated pulsating line with five STEPs to close the box called TAKT LINE and a manual pushing line with four STEPs for the completion of the drawer.
Below is a video that will help you to better understand the development of the process:
The development of the project presented and presents several technological challenges for Aernnova:
SAFETY: As in any operational activity in Aernnova companies, the safety of people is the first necessary requirement.
The project to implement the automation of the assembly of structures means that people and robots work together in the same production environment.
In order to ensure the safety of all the people, the project has been designed with the collaboration of OSALAN public institutions and private companies (mainly ARIBUS and MERCEDES).
The TAKT LINE has been certified with the declaration of conformity and CE marking, with the hiring of BUREAU VERITAS as technical advisor.
MOBILE TOOLING: Ensuring the repeating of the position of each of the tools and how to adapt the current ones, eliminating existing supports, adding new ones to be lifted either with AGV or with an overhead crane, in a plant with an absence of guides, architectural barriers and elements that hinder transit in the warehouse.
ROBOTs and their PLATFORMS: Referencing with ARTIFICIAL VISION with the aim of providing precision to an anthropomorphic robot.
DIGITALISATION: IT-OT integration is becoming a test bed for integrations between the world of business applications (IT – Information Technologies), including the ERP system and MES Delmia, and production control systems (OT – Operational Technologies), such as SCADA and PLC Master.
The design and implementation of a robust and scalable model of integrations led by Aernnova’s CMIT function has been carried out, which will be used in future deployments of IT-OT connections in the Group for other applications and automated environments.
To achieve this development, it has been necessary to adapt several existing technologies on the market to our context.
“The development has been led by the industrialization team, which has relied on different suppliers with experience in automation environments and, in particular, on one of the group’s companies: SERRA SOLDADURA”
The implementation of the drilling robot on the TAKT LINE has been a two-year project.
“Thanks to this project we increase (i) the safety of the employees, especially in processes involving heavy weights or hazardous environments and (ii) competitiveness in the market”.
